Flechette weapon system

ABSTRACT

A flechette weapon system which includes a missile operated mechanism for ejecting a plurality of flechettes from a missile. The mechanism includes a valve designed to automatically open at a predetermined pressure in the missile&#39;&#39;s motor pressure time operation. As the valve opens missile motor pressure passes through the valve and pressurizes an ejection piston and ejects the flechettes supported on the piston.

United States Patent 11 1 Haas 1451 Nov. 13, 1973 F LECHETTE WEAPONSYSTEM [75] Inventor: Robert T. Haas, Huntsville, Ala.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: June 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 260,077

[52] US. Cl 102/49.4, 102/344, 102/DIG. 7 [51] Int. Cl. F42b 15/10 [58]Field of Search 102/49.4, 34.4, 35.6,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,784 11/1922 Lucas102/356 3,457,861 7/1969 Crockett. l02/49.4 3,444,813 5/1969 Bird102/D1G. 7 2,655,105 10/1953 Hansche 102/494 2,489,984 11/1949 Shoemake89/1.5 F 3,397,638 8/1968 Gould 102/494 431,376 7/1890 Merriam 102/811,195,107 8/1916 Sheriff 102/010. 7

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-H. J. TudorAttorneyHarry M. Saragovitz et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A flechette weapon system which includes a missileoperated mechanism for ejecting a plurality of flechettes from amissile. The mechanism includes a valve designed to automatically openat a predetermined pressure in the missiles motor pressure timeoperation. As the valve opens missile motor pressure passes through thevalve and pressurizes an ejection piston and ejects the flechettessupported on the piston.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure FLECHETTE WEAPON SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to the field of flechette weaponsystems and mechanisms for ejecting the flechettes. Previous mechanismsused to eject flechettes required a precision timer for warhead event.The type of precision timers currently used are very expensive becauseof their requirement for millisecond operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has reduced the cost ofmissile production by eliminating the timer and utilizing a presetspring biased valve to control operation of the ejection piston.

This invention may be better understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE shown is a sectionalview of the flechette weapon system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference numeral identifies aflechette weapon system which includes a missile motor case 12 having amotor propellant 14 for producing a pressurizing gas therein. Flechettesor rod penetrators 16 are stacked in a two section container 18 split at19 and supported on an ejection piston 20. The container and piston aredisposed for forward movement on a launch tube 22 toward an ogive tip24. Container 18 has an arm 26 at tached to its forward end for knockingoff the ogive tip when the arm is brought into engagement with the tip.

Piston moves the flechettes toward the ogive tip when actuated by someportion of the missile motor gas pressure. An 0 ring seal 28 surroundspiston 20 to prevent loss of the ejection pressure in the launch tube. Acontrol valve 30 is caused to open a path for a portion of the missilemotor gas pressure to actuate the ejection piston. This opening is setat a predetermined point in the missile motor gas pressure timeoperation. The valve includes an 0 ring seal 32 for engaging a seat 34on a valve housing 36 that is connected to the 7 launch tube 22 at 38. Aplate 40 is connected to the valve and acts as a retaining surface forone end of a valve biasing spring 42. The other end of the springengages a retaining surface 44 of the launch tube. The valve is held ina closed position by dowel pins 46 located in clearance holes 48. Shearpins 50 are positioned in holes provided in dowel pins 46 to restraindowel pin movement until the motor gas pressure reaches a predeterminedpoint.

The operation of the flechette weaponsystem is as follows: a missilemotor having a gas pressure time curve characteric in the shape of ahaystack is desired for proper valve operation. The valve is locked inclosed position during the pressure rise side of the pressure curve.During this time, motor gas pressure acts on dowel pin surfaces 52 toshear pins 50. After pins 50 shear, the dowel pins move into clearanceholes 48 through the cooperating force of springs 53 and the motor gaspressure. 0 ring seals 55 are provided to prevent gas pressure losspassed the dowel pins 46. At this time valve 30 now is held closed bythe motor gas pressure. When the motor gas pressure declines to apredetermined point, spring 42 will overcome the motor gas pressureforce acting on valve face surface 54 and the valve will open. Motor gaspressure will now flow through opening 56 and ports 58 to build upbehind piston 20. When the pressure: build up overcomes the restraint ofseal 28 and the weight of the container 18, the flechettes rapidly movedtoward the ogive tip 24. Arm 26 will engage the ogive tip at its upperend and will pivotally separate it from the remainder of the missile andthe piston 20 will eject the flechettes, container and piston. When thecontainer and piston leave the launch tube air will cause a drag brakeon the piston as well as the container which separates at split 19. Theflechettes will continue on their course in a shotgun effect while bothcontainer sections and piston fall away.

I claim:

1. A flechette weapon system for ejecting a plurality of flechettes froma missile comprising: a launch tube in said missile; an ogive tipengaging one end of said launch tube; a container for stacking saidflechettes in said launch tube, said container including an arm forseparating said ogive tip from said missile; an ejection piston disposedin said launch tube engaging said container and said missiles; gaspressurizing means in said missile to provide gas pressure for actuatingsaid ejection piston; means controlling flow of said gas pressure tosaid ejection piston, said controlling means includes a valve housinghaving an opening therein, a valve seat adjacent said opening, a valvedisposed for cooperation with said seat, a spring in said housing forbiasing said valve to the open position, and dowel pins cooperating withsaid housing for holding said valve in the closed position, said dowelpins provided with shear pins to be sheared by said gas pressure torelease said dowel pins for movement and provided with resilient meansfor assisting dowel pin movement, said container consisting of aplurality of sections.

1. A flechette weapon system for ejecting a plurality of flechettes froma missile comprising: a launch tube in said missile; an ogive tipengaging one end of said launch tube; a container for stacking saidflechettes in said launch tube, said container including an arm forseparating said ogive tip from said missile; an ejection piston disposedin said launch tube engaging said container and said missiles; gaspressurizing means in said missile to provide gas pressure for actuatingsaid ejection piston; means controlling flow of said gas pressure tosaid ejection piston, said controlling means includes a valve housinghaving an opening therein, a valve seat adjacent said opening, a valvedisposed for cooperation with said seat, a spring in said housing forbiasing said valve to the open position, and dowel pins cooperating withsaid housing for holding said valve in the closed position, said dowelpins provided with shear pins to be sheared by said gas pressure torelease said dowel pins for movement and provided with resilient meansfor assisting dowel pin movement, said container consisting of aplurality of sections.